Hooked Up: Major flooding can often dramatically change a waterway

Saturday

Apr 20, 2013 at 11:05 PMApr 20, 2013 at 11:11 PM

Every so often, a good flood is needed to clear unwanted snags, brush and fallen trees from a waterway. This is happening right now throughout Ionia County rivers, creeks and streams. One often overlooked fact of a major flood is seen in the restructuring of a river's bottom.

Jim Kilchermann Jr.

Every so often, a good flood is needed to clear unwanted snags, brush and fallen trees from a waterway. This is happening right now throughout Ionia County rivers, creeks and streams. One often overlooked fact of a major flood is seen in the restructuring of a river's bottom.

Many times a major flood will straighten out a slow bend or simply bypass a sharp curve altogether. The typical danger for fishermen is in the changing of the bottom. After a major flood, the river is often a brand new creature requiring a complete relearning in order to use it properly.

I remember one spring in the late '80s, I wandered down to one of my favorite fishing holes hoping to find a few fresh steelhead. I slid down the bank and into the murky water intending to cross the creek as I had done so many times before in previous years. This crossing consisted of a channel along the bank which typically reached my knees then shallowed to shin depth about half-way across the creek.

The creek had just undergone a tremendous flood and I was excited to once again be able to fish. I was surprised - to say the least - when I hit the water and slid down and under the water's surface. This knee-deep water was now a six-foot plus deep channel. The creek remained deep from bank to bank. I have never waded across that section of creek since.

The same can happen to deep runs. I now fish several shallow gravel runs that were once deep sections of river. Flooding has filled the deep channels with silt and gravel creating very fine fishing habitat where poor conditions once thrived. The point here is, rivers change and floods can change a river overnight. Before plunging off into unknown waters after a flood, take some time to get reacquainted with your fishing spots. This cannot only result in more fish caught, it could just save your life.

The recent rains have driven the water levels in area rivers and creeks to record high levels. These will be different waterways than they were prior to the flooding. The dangers are not found only in the water. Many banks will be undercut drastically due to the raging water and could collapse if walked upon. This can lead to an unwanted dip into the water for the unsuspecting fisherman or hiker. Use care when traversing the shorelines of these rivers and streams for a while until you become familiar with the changes. Do not let a careless act cost you your life.

Remember to obey all river closings in the wake of these floods as floating trees and debris can cause serious injury or death to a wading fisherman and can even damage boats to the point of sinking. Remember to check out all waterways once the waters have receded and get to know your favorite spots all over again. Use your head, have fun and remember, it's a great outdoors.

Jim Kilchermann is an avid outdoorsman who uses flooding to find new fishing hot spots. He can be reached at jimkilchermann@yahoo.com to share a story or two. Until next time, stay out of the snags and keep all of your shots in the ten ring.